I’m Not One For Tradition For Tradition’s Sake Alone Because …

Stagnation or progression, which are we to choose, as individuals, as collectives, as citizens, and even as global citizens?

If tradition rules us simply because that is how things have always been done are we serving humanity to the best of our abilities or are we serving a tradition that has become more important than those tradition governs?

Yet, not all things old or traditional are bad or limiting, such as, love and not just the romantic kind, but the kind of love that is respectful of people because of the recognition the world does not center around us, as much as we sometimes would like it to do.

In assessing the value tradition adds to our quality of life, the question needs to be asked, “Are we following tradition for the sake of the tradition and perhaps a fear of change or is the tradition still valuable in the present?”

In the wake of Donald Trump being elected as President of the United States and the division he is fostering in his wake, I am reminded of a tradition I believe still has merit in the United States. (Originally written just after D.T.’s election, but just posted today.)

“Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that “all men (and women) are created equal.” Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863 Pennsylvania, United States.

And for his second inaugural address in Washington, DC, he said, “With malice toward none … ” March 4, 1865

Lincoln’s recognition that all people are created equal and as a result no malice should be shown to another is a tradition passed down through the years by small groups of people who have fought for that justice for all people, some religious and some just humanitarian.

Now for me, I know this is the tradition that has the power to further humanity’s efforts for a peaceful co-existence enabled by the perspective that everyone matters … a thought for some which is considered progressive … but whatever we label “respect for all” as, since the beginning of time, some people have struggled to make these words a reality for everyone.

As part of the group who believes every child should learn by their own experienced they are valued … to be respected simply for being a life, I created the concept, company, and global initiative, Connecting The Dots With The Respect Principle, in order to make the world a better place … for everyone … because everyone matters.

Bravo to all those doing what they can to make respect for someone … maybe for all … a reality.